Chocolate Terrine Recipes

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL TERRINE

Steps:

• Oil a 900g loaf tin and line with a double layer of baking parchment. Put the cream, cocoa, 200g caramel and a pinch of salt in a pan set over a medium heat and bring to the boil, whisking occasionally to combine. Tip the chocolate into a medium heatproof bowl and pour over the hot cream mixture. Leave to sit for 1 min, then stir everything together until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Leave to cool slightly for 5-10 mins.
• Beat the mascarpone into the cooled chocolate mixture using an electric whisk for 3-4 mins until smooth, glossy and the whisk leaves a trail behind in the mixture.
• To assemble the terrine, press the top halves of the caramel wafers into the bottom of the tin, cut-side up, trimming to fit if needed.
• Beat the remaining caramel with a whisk to loosen it, then spread half over the wafers in the tin. Spoon half the chocolate mixture over the top, then arrange the remaining wafer halves over the chocolate layer. Cover with the remaining caramel, ensuring everything is evenly covered, then top with the rest of the chocolate mixture. Cover the terrine with a strip of baking parchment, then freeze for at least 6 hrs, or overnight.
• Remove the terrine from the freezer 10 mins before serving, then turn out onto a chilled dish or serving plate. Dust generously with cocoa powder before cutting into slices.

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE TERRINE

Steps:

• Allow the cioccolato scuro gelato to "warm" up a bit at room temperature for about 15 minutes. You can use a kitchen mixer to soften your gelato, but make sure that you place the mixer bowl and paddle in the freezer for at least 15 minutes beforehand. Mix the gelato in a chilled bowl until soft but not melting.
• Take your clean, dry terrine and rub a tiny bit of oil over the entire interior surface using a clean paper towel. Make sure you get into the corners.
• Line the terrine using a large piece of plastic wrap, leaving at least 6 inches of wrap over the sides. Push into the corners and smooth the wrinkles using a clean dry paper towel. Place the terrine in the freezer for 15 minutes to chill.
• Remove the chilled terrine and working quickly, spoon the cioccolato scuro gelato into the bottom, filling it by one-third. Push the gelato down firmly into the corners using a small offset spatula. Level the surface, and then freeze for 1 hour.
• Repeat the process with the white chocolate gelato, freezing for 1 hour, and then repeat with the bacio gelato, freezing for 1 more hour, making sure each layer is firm before adding the next.
• After leveling the top, pour the chopped caramelized hazelnuts onto the surface. Take the plastic edges and cover the surface, pressing the nuts into the gelato. Freeze overnight.
• To serve, remove the terrine from the freezer and let stand for about 8 minutes. Using the plastic wrap, slowly lift the gelato out of the terrine. Unwrap the plastic and invert onto a serving tray. You can tip the terrine on its side to view the nuts.
• Run your knife under very hot water, wipe dry and slice the terrine. Do this before each slice. Serve it in slices, sandwiched between rectangular homemade sugar cookies or simply with some warm chocolate sauce.

DARK CHOCOLATE TERRINE

Steps:

• Lightly oil an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-by-2-inch loaf pan and line it as neatly as possible with plastic wrap, allowing the ends to drape over the sides. (I lay two pieces of plastic wrap crosswise in the pan, overlapping in the center.) Place the pan in the freezer.
• Place a large heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Place the butter in the bowl, then the chocolate and coffee powder and heat until just melted, stirring occasionally with a rubber spatula. As soon as the chocolate and butter are melted, take the bowl off the heat and whisk in, one at a time, and in order, first the confectioners' sugar, then the cocoa powder, egg yolks, Cognac and salt. Set the bowl aside for 15 minutes to cool.
• Place the egg whites and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on high speed until the whites form firm but not dry peaks. Fold the whites into the cooled chocolate mixture with a rubber spatula.
• Without cleaning the bowl or whisk attachment, pour the cream and vanilla into the bowl and beat on high speed until it forms firm peaks. Fold the cream carefully but thoroughly into the chocolate mixture. Pour into the prepared loaf pan, smooth the top, fold the plastic wrap over the top and chill for 4 hours or overnight.
• To serve, turn the terrine out of the mold and unwrap it. Spoon a puddle of Orange Sauce in the middle of each dessert plate and place a slice of the terrine in the middle. Sprinkle each serving lightly with orange zest and fleur de sel.
• Beat the egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed for 3 minutes, until very thick. Reduce to low speed and mix in the cornstarch.
• With the mixer still on low, slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture (I use a liquid measuring cup for pouring). Pour the mixture into a clean, small, deep saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it reaches 180 degrees F on a candy thermometer and thickens to the consistency of heavy cream. The mixture will coat the spoon. Don't cook it above 180 degrees F or the eggs will scramble! Immediately (it will keep cooking in the saucepan), pour the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and stir in the vanilla, Cognac, Grand Marnier and orange zest. Cover and chill.

WHITE & DARK CHOCOLATE TERRINE

Steps:

• Brush a 2lb loaf tin (about 22 x 11 x 6cm) with oil, line completely with cling film (the oil will help it to stick to the sides), then line the base with a strip of baking parchment. Gently melt the white chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, then remove from the heat and leave to cool a little. Using an electric whisk, beat in 200ml of the cream until the mixture is just holding its own shape. Set aside while you make the dark layer.
• Melt the dark chocolate as you did the white, then remove from the heat and cool for 1 min. Little by little, stir the remaining cream into the melted chocolate until you have a smooth, thick ganache. Whisk the egg whites to soft peaks, stir a third into the ganache to loosen it, then fold in the rest.
• To assemble, spoon just under half of the dark mixture into the loaf tin and smooth the surface. Spoon over the white chocolate and smooth, then gently spoon the remaining dark chocolate mixture over the top, being careful not to disturb the white layer, again smoothing the surface. Cover and chill for at least 2 hrs. If you're making the terrine the day before, let it sit at room temperature for 1 hr before serving.
• To serve, turn the tin upside down onto a serving plate and use the edges of cling film to ease out the terrine. Remove the cling film and baking parchment and serve with the Star anise biscuits (see Goes well with, right).

CHOCOLATE TERRINE (CHOCOLATE MOUSSE IN CHOCOLATE SPONGE CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter and flour two 10 inch-by-15-inch jelly-roll pans.
• To make the mousse, melt chocolate and butter over hot water, beat egg yolks into chocolate and butter, and add cognac.
• Beat egg whites to soft peaks and add sugar slowly. Continue to beat till stiff but not dry. Add stiffly beaten whites to chocolate mixture and beat together with a whisk.
• Whip cream almost to stiff peaks and fold into chocolate mixture. Chill for at least one hour.
• To make the sponge cake, sift flour and cocoa twice. Whisk together eggs and sugar over simmering water until sugar begins to dissolve and mixture is warm. Add vanilla.
• Whip at high speed until thick and light, and mixture forms a ribbon when poured from a spoon.
• Sift one-third of the dry ingredients over the eggs and sugar, and fold in with a rubber spatula until combined. Repeat with remaining flour and cocoa, one third at a time.
• Divide the batter equally between the two pans and bake until cake tester is clean in the center, or about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.
• When cake has cooled, cut the sponge cake to line completely a pate mold or a straight-sided bread pan, about three inches by four inches by 10 inches. Cut each piece slightly larger than the pan. Simply press the fresh cake against the bottom and sides of the pan, making sure the corners and seams are sealed with cake. Chill until ready for filling. Save the scraps for later use; you should have two pieces large enough to use as layers inside the terrine.
• To make the ganache, chop chocolate into coinsize pieces. Bring one cup of the cream to a boil and pour over chocolate. Stir until chocolate is completely dissolved and ganache is smooth and shiny.
• To assemble, fill chocolate terrine with alternating layers of chocolate mousse, ganache and a sheet of chocolate sponge cake, ending with chocolate sponge cake to form a cover and seal the terrine, reserving enough chocolate ganache to cover the outside. This will come later. Rap the pan sharply several times while assembling and again afterwards. Allow the terrine to chill overnight.
• To make chocolate curls, melt the semisweet chocolate slowly over hot water, making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. When completely melted, spread the chocolate about one-eighthinch thick on a baking sheet with a metal spatula. Chill completely.
• When chilled, remove from refrigerator and let chocolate begin to warm. Holding the metal spatula at a 45-degree angle to the baking sheet, begin to move the spatula across the sheet, loosening the chocolate. If the chocolate has reached the proper temperature, it will slide up the spatula as you move along the sheet, curling as you go. If it cracks, it is too cold. Let it warm up and try again. If it sticks to the spatula, it is too warm. Regrigerate for a moment or two. Refrigerate the curls.
• When the terrine has chilled thoroughly, turn it out by placing an appropriate-size platter (a rectangular bread board will do) upside down on top of the terrine. Then turn it over. The terrine should drop right out. If it does not, let it sit on the platter, and tap the top and sides with the heel of your hand.
• Remelt the remaining ganache over hot water, stirring occasionally until smooth and shiny again. If it seems too thick to pour, add several tablespoons of cream.
• Starting at one end and moving toward the other, pour the ganache over the terrine, letting it run down the sides. Smooth the sides and top with a narrow frosting spatula and let the terrine set in the refrigerator for several minutes.
• Garnish the entire terrine with curls in any way you like. The curls will stick to the ganache. Refrigerate until one-half hour to one hour before serving.

THREE LAYERED CHOCOLATE TERRINE

Steps:

• Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place in three seperate bowls.
• Heat the cream to boiling point and pour 1 1/4 cups over the semisweet dark chocolate.
• Pour 1 cup over the milk chocolate.
• And 3/4 cup over the white chocolate.
• Whisk each chocolate until smooth.
• Cover each bowl with plastice wrap and cool to room temperature.
• Refrigerate until thick, but not hardened, about 2 1/2 hours.
• Line a 9-inch round springform pan with plastic wra or foil leaving a 1-inch overhang around the top of the pan.
• Remove the semisweet chocolate mixture from the fridge and beat using an electric mixer until thick, soft peaks.
• Pour into the prepared pan, cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 5 minutes.
• Remove the plastice wrap and repeat with the other chocolates.
• Cover the pan wit plastic wrap and freeze overnight.
• Remove the Terrine from the freezer 15 minutes before serving.
• Just before serving remove the sides of the pan, peel off the foil or plastic, and cut and enjoy.

CHERRY CHOCOLATE TERRINE

Steps:

• Up to one month before: melt the chocolate and half the butter in a bowl over a pan of gently simmering water. (Or melt in the microwave on Medium for 3 minutes.) When melted, stir with a wooden spoon until you have a smooth consistency, then allow to cool slightly.
• The day before: line 2 x 1.7 litre terrine or loaf tins with cling film. In a very large bowl, big enough to take all the terrine ingredients, beat the rest of the butter with 200g/8oz sugar using an electric hand whisk. It should become smooth. Now stir in the cocoa until you have a smooth chocolatey paste.
• Wash your beaters, then whisk the double cream until it forms soft peaks but no further. Underwhipped is better than overwhipped for this recipe. Wash the beaters again, then whisk the egg whites to form soft peaks.
• Stir in 125ml/4fl oz of the cherry brandy (save the rest for the syrup) and the cooled melted chocolate and butter into the cocoa butter paste. Stir in the cherries, then finally fold in your gently whipped cream, followed by the egg whites, until evenly mixed. Pour into the terrines and gently bang on a hard surface to settle. (You can prepare and freeze this up to a month ahead, or overnight.)
• Pour the remaining cherry brandy and the remaining 100g/4oz sugar into a small heavy-based saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce by about two thirds to make a syrup, then allow to cool.
• Take the terrines out of the freezer and tip them on to a board. Line the tins with fresh cling film. As soon as the terrines are soft enough to slice but still firm, after 10-15 minutes, cut each one into 10 slices using a sharp knife so you get a lovely clean line with clear segments of cherries.Return the slices to the tins, interleafing each slice with greaseproof to keep them separate (see left). The last slice may not fit exactly, but don't worry. Cover and return to the freezer.
• One hour before serving: transfer to the fridge to take the chill off. Just before serving, lay a slice of the terrine on a spoonful of mascarpone, then drizzle each plate with syrup.

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE TERRINE

Steps:

• Since the flavor of these layers depends entirely on the chocolate, please use the best brand you can afford- I like Callebaut, but you can also use Lindt, Tobler, Valrhona or Ghiardelli.
• Using a standard loaf pan, line it with plastic wrap so that the plastic extends beyond the sides of the pan by at least 3 inches on each side.
• For the dark chocolate layer: melt the chocolate, espresso, and rum in the microwave on 50% power for about 2 minutes.
• Stir until smooth.
• Whisk in the yolk and mix well.
• Set aside.
• Whip the whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form.
• Sprinkle in the sugar, beating on high until stiff, but not dry.
• Fold a quarter of the whites into the chocolate to lighten it, then scrape the remaining whites on top of the chocolate and set aside.
• Beat the cream until it holds it shape (not stiff) then scrape on top of the whites.
• Fold everything together gently until no streaks of white appear.
• Turn the mousse into your prepared mold, spreading until it is an even layer.
• Place in the freezer.
• Make the milk chocolate layer: melt the chocolate and coffee in the microwave on 30% (low) power for about 2 minutes.
• Stir until smooth and completely melted.
• (Milk chocolate burns very easily. Do not attempt to melt it at a higher temperature.) Set aside to cool slightly.
• Whip the cream until soft peaks form- not too stiff.
• Fold very carefully into the milk chocolate- it will seem very soft.
• Scrape on top of the dark chocolate layer, smoothing to an even layer.
• Put in the freezer.
• Make the white chocolate layer: place the chocolate and 2 tbl.
• water in a heatproof bowl.
• Microwave on low (30% power) for about 2 minutes.
• Stir until very smooth and completely melted.
• Let cool slightly.
• Whip the cream until soft peaks form- not too stiff.
• Fold very carefully into the chocolate- it, too, will seem very soft.
• Scrape on top of the milk chocolate layer, smoothing to an even layer.
• Now- gently, gently tap the pan a couple of times on the counter to allow all the layers to settle against one another.
• Carefully wrap the excess plastic up over the mousse.
• Put the entire thing in the freezer for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
• It also freezes well for a month prior to serving.
• To serve: Take the pan from the freezer, and set in a pan of hot water for 10 seconds.
• Carefully unwrap the plastic from the top, then unmold onto a cutting board, pulling on the plastic wrap to help release it.
• Peel the plastic from the mousse and discard.
• Slice the mousse into 8 slices (this is done more easily with a knife you run under hot water then wipe dry quickly and cut while the knife is still warm) and carefully arrange on individual plates.
• Serve immediately.
• Serving suggestions: raspberry sauce and a few berries and a sprig of mint, or be really decadent and serve it with a drizzle of hot fudge sauce and a sprig of mint or both.